Bidvest Noonan Special Update August 2023

A message from your Regional Organiser

As your Regional Organiser I wanted to give you an update on what the union has been doing recently in the fight for better pay and conditions for RMT members at Bidvest Noonan.

I want to start by saying that I work closely with your reps and have had regular meetings with the company.

Your reps have monthly meetings with management and raise issues on your behalf.

Much of this information should be available to you as I have requested minutes of meetings be put in a folder in booking on points so staff can read what the reps have been raising on your behalf and the response from management.

I know that without visible progress

it is easy to feel that nothing is being done but this is not the case. A lot of work is being carried out behind the scenes but it does take time to get results, especially on pay.

Nevertheless, we have had some wins. Crucially, we stopped the proposed reorganisation which could have resulted in redundancies.

We also raised the shortage of uniform and this is no longer a problem.

Other issues that have been raised and resolved include night workers have now been given belts and drinking water bottles. Extra fans have been made available for mess rooms.

The rat problem at Fenchurch St cleaners’ mess room has also been sorted.

Pay Claim Update

During recent meetings with Bidvest Noonan, I was accompanied by our local representatives to discuss the union’s pay claim submission.

Our initial meeting took place on 6th April 2023 and the demands set out in the pay claim were presented to the management team.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the company offered the ‘Real Living Wage’ effective from 1st April 2023 (£10.90 UK rate, £11.95 London rate) with other pay grades being uplifted by the same margin. The company presented this as their full and final offer.

Bidvest Noonan have implemented this increase but not by agreement with the union.

We are currently working on the female changing room at East Ham depot.

Now we have representatives in all areas, but we need safety reps in Shoeburyness and East Ham.

Where we haven’t had a win yet is on pay. I have a meeting with the company on the 22nd of September where I will raise the issue again and if there is no movement, we will review the situation.

I visit depots every three months to speak to the staff. If you need me, please contact me on 07951 819418 or email k.mazur@rmt.org.uk

Best wishes,

Kathy Mazur

Regional Organiser London & Anglia

The Living Wage Foundation is an organisation which in my view institutionalises poverty pay for workers. Any increase is welcome, but the pay demands of the Living Wage Foundation do not go anywhere far enough and are way below the aspirations of our Bidvest Noonan members or the union.

By paying 48 pence over the statutory minimum wage (UK rate) Bidvest Noonan can use the Living Wage Foundation’s logo and give the impression of fairness.

In reality our members struggle to make ends meet. Your reps and the national union are determined to keep fighting for a fair settlement – £15 an hour, sick pay beyond the statutory minimum, travel provision and a defined benefit pension scheme.